Stellantis Sochaux Plant
| Company type | Automotive manufacturing plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Peugeot |
| Headquarters | Sochaux , France |
Key people | Jean-Martin Folz (former chairman) |
| Products | Peugeot 3008, Peugeot 5008, Citroën DS5 (since 2011) |
Number of employees | 11,972 permanent employees (2011) |
| Parent | Stellantis |
The Stellantis Sochaux Plant stands as a prominent automotive manufacturing site in France. In 2007, it achieved a production volume near 326,000 vehicles, and by May 2011 its workforce comprised 11,972 permanent employees, roughly 2,000 temporary workers, along with more than 800 personnel from affiliated companies. Established by Peugeot in 1912 originally to produce trucks, it evolved into the company’s primary automobile manufacturing location by the 1930s. It maintained its status as Peugeot’s chief plant for flagship models until 1972 when a second large-scale facility was inaugurated in Mulhouse.
In December 2010, the Sochaux factory celebrated the milestone of its 20 millionth vehicle produced by donating a Peugeot 5008 to the Haiti Protestant Federation as part of earthquake relief support.
Situated in Sochaux, Doubs, near the border of Franche-Comté, the plant’s early 21st-century output was dominated by the Peugeot 307. Smaller Peugeot vehicles were assembled at Mulhouse, while larger models such as the 406 and 407 were manufactured at the Rennes facility. The low-volume Peugeot 607 also saw most of its production run at Sochaux.
Currently, Sochaux specializes in producing Peugeot’s 3008 and 5008 lines. In 2011, production expanded to include the Citroën-branded Citroën DS5, reflecting a deliberate broadening of Stellantis’ brand offerings.
Location and history
The roots of Peugeot’s automotive manufacturing lie in the Franche-Comté area close to Switzerland’s border. The Sochaux plant commenced operations in 1912 focusing on truck production within a region where Peugeot already held significant industrial influence.
By the mid-1920s, Peugeot’s vehicle manufacturing was distributed across four separate sites, including Sochaux. From 1925 to 1929, substantial capital investments were made to centralize all car production at Sochaux to accommodate rising demand amid Europe’s expanding auto market during the 1930s. This consolidation coincided with transitioning to steel body panel fabrication requiring large-scale pressing equipment—moving away from handcrafted techniques toward mass production.
By 1935, employment at Sochaux reached approximately 12,000 workers with an annual output of around 40,000 cars. Peugeot overtook Renault in sales by 1937 and by 1939 commanded a quarter of France’s automobile market share with all manufacturing concentrated at Sochaux.
Unlike other French carmakers who clustered near Paris, Peugeot developed its main manufacturing base in Sochaux, capitalizing on regional industrial capabilities distinct from traditional carriage-building centers.
Production departments
As of 2012, the Sochaux complex encompasses critical production units including:
- Panel pressing
- Body welding
- Body painting
- Assembly
- Quality control
- Logistics
- Engine manufacturing
Historically, Peugeot set itself apart by producing most components internally, resulting in diverse manufacturing operations at Sochaux. However, during chairman Jean-Martin Folz’s tenure in the late 1990s, the company adjusted its approach to enhance cost-effectiveness by outsourcing certain parts. This strategy led to shutting down departments such as central tooling production, seating assembly plant, and foundry operations.
In 2011, Peugeot revealed intentions to procure shock absorbers from a Japanese supplier’s facility in Spain. This decision entailed closing the existing shock absorber plant at Sochaux and reallocating around 600 workers accordingly.
Research and Development
Approximately 4,000 personnel at the Sochaux facility are dedicated to research and development efforts, with a particular emphasis on developing successors to the "Platform 2" vehicles, including models like the 308 and C4.
Environmental Initiatives
Since July 1999, the Sochaux plant has maintained ISO 14001 certification. Significant environmental milestones achieved include:
- An 80% reduction in water usage over a decade
- A 75% decrease in CO2 emissions within eight years
- A 75% decline in non-recyclable waste production over eight years
In 2010, the employee parking area was covered with solar panels spanning 9,300 m², producing 1,400 kW annually and cutting CO2 emissions by 450 tons.
See also
Book
- 2000: Retour sur la condition ouvrière, Michel Pialoux and Stéphane Beaud, Editions Fayard.
Films
- Avec le sang des autres, documentary by Bruno Muel, France, 1974, 50'
- Sochaux, cadences en chaîne, documentary by Laurence Jourdan, France, 2010, 55'
References
This article includes content derived from the corresponding article on French Wikipedia.